Summary of My Internship
My internship was great... really enjoyed meeting many new people, and seeing the difference they are making in their own communities! This internship has really changed my life because I have learned many new things about how to improve my life by making small changes.
Ogallala Commons has opened many doors for me that I hope I can take advantage of, and make at least one person proud. In the end, I hope that anyone who will be interested in doing this internship in the future, can enjoy it as much as I did.
My Internship Journal by Jayme Flores, Hart, TX
Week One
The first week of my internship in Nazareth, TX was very interesting. I learned a great deal about what I can do to help our environment and develop more community services. I never really realized how local food is so important, and how damaging the chemicals that we put into our bodies can be.
On Monday, as I was shown around Darryl and Joann's home, I learned many interesting facts about their home. Darryl also showed and informed me of the different things he does on his land, such as short term cow grazing. We also walked around and viewed many different plants in the playa bottom. I helped get a few handouts ready for the new L.I.F.T sessions that will be taking place, for Darryl to duplicate. Before I left for the day I helped hoe a few weeds and we talked about getting new prospective L.I.F.T. students, as well as those who would be interested in the Entrepreneur Learning Day in Tulia, Texas.
Tuesday, Darryl and I, along with Clint Rollins, walked along the playa bed and identified plants that have grown there. We looked at the prairie cornflower, buffalo grass, silver nightshade, and many others. I also learned that playa beds have 350 different seeds, just waiting to grow. The hard part is that you can only see the different plants in different years, because of the changing levels of moisture and heat.
Wednesday morning I arrived and helped Darryl pick a variety of salad greens for the Noon Meal, held at the Senior Citizen Center every Wednesday. We picked and cleaned spinach, lettuce, and swish chard. I enjoyed a meal of spaghetti, salad, and many side dishes. After lunch, Darryl and I met with Niamh O'Malley to discuss new ways to improve the use of the community computer lab. We came up with having a Myspace Night and getting the youth to help and teach each other new ways to improve the look of our pages.
Thursday I worked on finishing up on the flyers for the Myspace Night and reviewed the schedule for the Harding County, NM Trip. I also lookup and researched items that can be add to the pages. My friends all have completely different personalities and appearances on their pages.
On Friday I received the day off, but I also worked on other things, so I could be ahead in the end.
Week Two
The second week of my internship was a little slow and a tad bit off the schedule but that was all understandable. I have learned a lot about net-metering energy and how it can help if everyone can do it just a little bit every day.
Monday, I put together all the packets for the L.I.F.T sessions coming up very soon. I put together around 30 packets; I bound all the pages and got every one of the papers and binders organized. After eating lunch I tried to help by getting a paper for the L.I.F.T sessions to print out correctly. I also helped with some yard work while talking about different ways to get students involved with the projects I have been involved with these past two weeks.
Tuesday, I was lucky enough to get out of having to work too much. I finished up the last few flyers for the computer classes to be held in the Home Merc. Community Classroom. I posted the flyers up at the post office, the hardware store, and Naz Stop.
Wednesday, I did not go to work because of a death in Darryl's family, although I did try to work out of my home.
Thursday, I arrived and talked to Darryl about teens that maybe interested in the conference in Tulia. I named a few students who are very active in our school actives as well as community events. I made a list of almost 20 students from all of Castro County. I called all of the students and asked if they would be interested in attending the Myspace Night, on June 18th. I have had a decent response for this event so far, with it just being the first time.
This has been an experience I hope I can take with me for the rest of my life. I really hope that I can continue to learn and be able to teach others the wonderful things I have learned.
Week Three
Monday, was an exciting day. I arrived at Darryl's house just as Simone was arriving, so before we even got inside we met for the first time. The three of us when out to Darryl's brother's farm to get food for the teacher's retreat on Tuesday. We also got things ready for the Myspace Night that I had planned. Simone and I went to Plainview to get a few items for the night and the next day. We came back to Naz, and had the Myspace Night.
Early Tuesday, Simone and I helped get everything ready for the Teachers Retreat. All day long, we helped out with the playa tour, and answered questions for anyone who had them. I also met with Andy and we received directions to get to the Southwest Collection on the Texas Tech Campus. We stayed at Darryl's and had dinner with them and Stephanne.
Wednesday, I was off because I had a dental appointment.
Thursday, Simone and I went over to Lubbock to tour the Southwest Collection Building, with Andy Wilkinson. We toured many different rooms that had items of history in them. Some rooms that we toured had the items to look at, and to be researched. Other rooms had items that were to be displayed or that had previously been displayed. We also toured some of the university's buildings and looked at the murals inside and how well they are preserved.
Week Four
Monday was the Playa Lakes Appreciation Day. While there, we heard many talks about preservation of playas and how they look at them in different ways. After lunch, we toured two playas and looked at the different ways they could be used for nature tourism and not be harmed. We also toured Darryl's home and the playa he has on his land.
Tuesday, we had a Red River Cluster meeting on Entrepreneurship and forming new businesses. We met in Tulia, with Swisher County and Castro County. We talked about developing a youth entrepreneurship fair. We talked about all the different possibilities that are open to us. After the meeting Simone, Remelle and I started on our trip to Crowell, TX. When we arrived, we went to the B&B where we would be staying. For supper we at the Dairy Bar, and afterwards, we went to the local Softball game.
Wednesday, we went to the 3RF Astronomy Center, for a quick tour. For lunch we went to the local Rotary Club meeting and gave the program. Everyone there was very interested in what we had to say. We later went back to the chamber where we made phone calls to remind everyone of the adventure series that was to take place the next day. We also went to look at the location for the adventure series.
Simone and Jayme pick sand plums near Crowell, TX
Thursday we helped keep traditions alive and made plum and mint jelly. We picked locally-grown wild plums from the roadside, and we also picked mint. All of us who helped really enjoyed the experience and fun that we had all day making jelly for the locals, who welcomed us with open arms. Later we helped with the adventure series that was taking place, we heard stories about Foard County and the fun that use to take place in the small community.
Week Five
Monday Simone and I drove up to Canadian, TX to help Remelle get all of the Fourth of July festivities under way. We arrived and took a driving tour of Canadian that is available at the Chamber. We also wrote down a list of things that were to be achieved before Wednesday. After we went to dinner, we met the young couple that we would be staying with for the week. That night we gathered with the young couple and talked just to get to know each other.
Tuesday Simone and I helped gather trash cans, flyers and other small things to get ready for the parade and court house grounds. We also did a few things in town, and marked off a lot that was not to be used for trailers. We also set up things at Lake Marvin and we also cleaned out a room that stored many flyers that were no longer needed by the chamber.
Jayme helps to feed the masses of watermelon lovers at Canadian's 4th of July
Wednesday, Simone and I helped judge the parade. We looked at many interesting floats and cars, as well as many children's entries. The parade was lots of fun to watch. After the parade, we walked around the court house grounds and enjoyed all the vendors. After lunch we watched the rodeo before going to help at the watermelon feast. Simone and I assisted in cutting and serving the watermelon. Afterwards my ride back home picked me up, so no one would have to take me to Amarillo.
Week Six
Monday Simone and I drove over to Waynoka, OK. We went out to Kim Barker's home where we were welcomed by his wife. Later that night we had dinner and went out side to help Kim with what he called a "small project". After getting outside, Kim, his daughter Lacey, Simone and I herded sheep and looked for two that were sick and would be taken to Stillwater the next day.
Tuesday morning we met Kim's middle daughter Juli and talked to Angie at the Chamber. While there we gave different ideas of things to for youth and community involvement. We all came up with very interesting ideas. We later met with Kim in Fairview to eat lunch and then visited a business incubator. This incubator is very interesting, it helps small business grow and develop to insure the success of the business. It has three large rooms and two offices; it also has free sectarian services as well as free rent for one year.
 Jayme explores the Alabaster Caverns
Wednesday Kim took Simone and I to Alabaster Caverns. We took a tour and looked at many different things in the cave. It was very interesting to see how nature can change things after a period of time. We came back to Kim's house and started to sort things and make ice cream. We all helped get different orders ready and packed it all up into coolers.
 Packing coolers for the Big Delivery Day!
Thursday we woke up early to leave at around 6:00 a.m. we drove to Fairview to pick up orders for another producer who was very nice and gave us part of his product to try. After getting to the location, Simone and I were given instructions on how to sort all the different items. We sorted and placed orders based on where they were to go, and later helped pack everything into coolers and bags for an easier pick up for the customer. After all the products were distributed, we helped pack coolers for the Edmond group. After that we started on way home, we laughed most of the way back and got to Kim's house about 9: 30 p.m.
Week Seven
Monday I went to Hart, TX City Hall and talked to Sue Hawkins about Hart Days that took place just last weekend. Sue thought that the festival was a great success, everything looked wonderful. Our town had a first-time-in-a-long-time "Little Miss Hart Pageant" along with the "Miss Hart Pageant." We also had a parade that included class reunions, local businesses, and many others. Later that afternoon, I visited at a local hydroponic barn and looked at the different plants that are being grown there. The owner, David Schulte, showed me how he checked the ph balance of the water, and how he lowers his tall tomato plants to help them keep growing.
Tuesday, I stayed home and worked on my papers, I have finished writing and I tried every possible way to place my pictures in this whole essay and it would not work with me so I'm sorry that there are no pictures.
I have really enjoyed this experience and working with so many different people...I learned a lot. I enjoyed being able to meet different people, and see how they, just like me, are trying to make a difference in their community. If you just pass by most of these little towns, you would think that nothing is going on, but looking inside and spending time there you realize that there are many people who working very hard to make their community better and bring a new life to it...which is very interesting to me. I love how things are so different on one side of the fence, and then you cross it and you can see all the different projects that make these small communities so rich in common wealth.
|
